advanced reading copy of ADOPTING GRACE
64 of 186

It was a beautiful New England day, so I decided to jump onto the T and head somewhere that I had never been before: Cambridge, the home of Harvard University. First stop was a yoga studio where my body and spirit were renewed. Then an unhurried walk around a beautiful university campus, followed by the discovery of a fun and delicious local eating place with a book in hand. Though the original thought was to take public transportation back to downtown Boston, the weather and something internal beckoned me to instead start walking the four miles back. I passed beautiful historical homes, an ethnic neighborhood, a financial district, and crossed a bridge while gazing out at a stunning cityscape. It was six hours well spent. It has taken time and experimentation to discover the things that are truly life giving for me. A critical step in this discovery was to clear away the things that had become burdensome and joy stealing. All of the volunteering and busyness blurred my vision and prevented me from seeing what matters most. A few things that quench my personal heart thirst are writing, listening to authors tell their stories, one on one time with my husband, listening to interesting podcasts, receiving communion, reading, doing yoga, indie movies, meditation, walking, and treading water with a friend. It is a gift to enjoy my own company as well as that of others. Times of transition provide opportunities to explore and discover what it is that makes us soar. I imagine that when there is more time and space and less active parenting, a certain ADOPTING GRACE ADVANCED READING COPY 64